It's the Halladay season

Unless you've been living under a rock, you know by now the Phillies have traded for Roy Halladay. You know they traded Cliff Lee to Seattle. You're wondering, why couldn't they keep both and go into 2010 with the ultimate 1-2 punch to dominate the National League and win the pennant for the 3rd straight year? Its a good question. I'll try to address that for you.

Let's start with why this deal happened. Its no secret Ruben Amaro always coveted Halladay. He wanted him last July. Toronto's asking price was a little too rich for the Phils. Amaro opted for the next best thing. Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco for 4 prospects. Each team got something they needed. Cleveland got prospects for rebuilding and the Phils got the ace they needed and a right handed bat off the bench. But after coming up short in the World Series, the Phils needed to send a message to the National League that they are still the 2-time league champs. By acquiring Halladay, they essentially kept him from their biggest challenger, the Dodgers. Toronto fired J.P. Riccardi in September, opening the doors for the Phils to try again to see what it would take to acquire the '03 Cy Young winner. But why go after Halladay when you already have Lee at $9 million next season?

Cliff Lee's salary seems a bargain for the 2010 season. But the Phils wanted him to sign a long term deal, which Lee didn't seem interested in. He wants to test the market after next season in the hopes of netting a CC Sabathia type deal. Amaro had a tough decision to make. Lose Lee after next season or acquire baseball's best pitcher, who is willing to sign a contract extension. I don't blame Amaro for doing what was in the best interest of the Phillies. He gets a workhorse pitcher in Halladay, who is equipped to battle the Yanks or Red Sox if they meet in the World Series. It cost him 3 decent prospects, including top prospect Kyle Drabek. By trading Lee to Seattle, Amaro was able to replenish the minor with Seattle's top 3 prospects. The Phillies may have actually set themselves to be a competitive team for the next 5 years. First, Halladay agreed to a 3 year $60 million extension. Second, the 3 prospects from Seattle are actually projected to be better then the three they gave Toronto. Third, the made this trade and did not have to give up J.A. Happ or Dominic Brown.

I know Cliff Lee became a hero in Philadelphia during the World Series. Its tough to part with a player of Lee's talent. But Lee would have walked after 2010, and the Phils would have certainly been outbid for him by the likes of Boston or New York. With these deals, we now have arguably the best pitcher in baseball signed for 4 years (possibly 5 with a 2014 option)and a bright future with very good prospects who in 2-3 years will be ready to prove it was worth it to trade Lee. Lee gives Seattle an amazing 1-2 punch along with Felix Hernandez and makes them the favorite in the AL West. We wish Cliff the best in Seattle and will never forget perhaps the greatest pitching performance in Phillies history. The Phillies are once again the NL favorites. There is no moves the Dodgers, Mets or Cardinals can make that can make them look better then the Phils look now. If Cole Hamels returns to '08 postseason from, J.A. Happ pitches like he did in 09, and Brad Lidge can regain his "lights out" form, the Phillies will, for the 3rd straight year, be champions of the National League. Not bad for the losingest team in all professional sports.